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Dr. Joe Serio is an international speaker, trainer, and author who holds a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Sam Houston State University (SHSU), with a specialization in Leadership and Organizational Behavior. His career is highlighted by unique experiences in the former Soviet Union investigating the Russian mafia, including a year spent working in the Organized Crime Control Department of the Soviet national police prior to the collapse of the USSR.
Favorite Success Quote
“Problems are not stop signs they’re guideline”~Dr. Robert Schuler
Key Points
1. Learn to Say No More
Something that many people are fearful of is appearing selfish and unkind to others. This leads to many of us saying yes when we should be saying no.
One of the best things you can begin to do, both for your productivity and for your general sense of peace and well being is to start saying no more often. Whenever other people start to put demands on your time that are incongruent with your goals and lifestyle, stick to the old anti drug motto and just say no.
2. Suppress the Ego Expand the Heart
Many people are suffering from fear because they are solely focused on themselves. They are only pursuing big dreams, and trying to take risks for personal gain and increase.
However, when you start to shift your focus towards others, you are now able to face fears with greater ease. When you have a big enough “why” to face your fears that encompasses people and things that you love and want to positively impact, the fear will evaporate, replaced by a high level of resolve to do what you set out to do.
3. Stop Trying to Please Everyone
The quickest way to live a life of misery and heartache is to try and please everyone all the time. While this may seem a bit counterintuitive considering that the last point talks about focusing on others, once you dig a little deeper, there is no conflict.
There is a fine line between trying to please everyone and trying to impact the world for the better. One path will lead you to do things that you don’t enjoy to garner the approval of people you don’t like, and the other will lead you to help society and contribute to things you believe in and care about.
Who cares if your alcoholic co worker thinks your goals of entrepreneurship are pointless, who cares if your broke family members laugh when you say you’re going to start an online business…who cares?!
Live life on your terms and work on pleasing the people that really matter in your life, starting with yourself.
4. Get As Much Experience As Possible
The first step to success is to get as much experience as possible. Do the necessary research, learn what you need to, and then take some freaking action. Get as much experience as you possibly can, stop procrastinating and get out there.
You don’t need a PHD or some sort of certificate from someone else, just freaking choose yourself and get to work.
Influential Books
1. Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl
2. 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
3. A Suitable Amount of Crime by Nils Christie
